Pentagon Orders University Audits
The Pentagon ordered 30 US universities to examine their academic, financial and research relationships with foreign institutions considered entities of concern. These reviews cover partnerships with organisations in China, Russia and Iran. They also include groups associated with former Confucius Institutes. Universities must submit their findings and proposed measures by August 31. Therefore, they have only two weeks to complete the process.
As part of the audits, each institution must determine whether sensitive or export-controlled research became exposed through foreign collaborations. Universities may also have to terminate partnerships that the Pentagon considers problematic. Otherwise, they could become ineligible for future federal funding. However, the Department of Defence did not identify the institutions involved or explain how many notifications concerned ties with China.
Research Security Restrictions
According to the department, the initiative seeks to protect taxpayer-funded research from unauthorised technology transfers, intellectual-property theft and exploitation by foreign adversaries. In addition, Pentagon officials argued that universities play a critical role in numerous defence research programmes. Consequently, the department considers the protection of its research investments essential for national security.
The audits focus on collaborations with entities included on a list created under Section 1286 of the 2019 National Defence Authorisation Act. In July, the Pentagon added 130 universities and research organisations from China, Russia and Iran. Of that total, 88 institutions are located in mainland China. For example, the list includes Fudan University and Shanghai Jiao Tong University. It also names institutions with more explicit connections to China’s military and defence establishment.
Under the Pentagon’s research-security rules, federal funding is generally prohibited for fundamental research involving collaboration with a listed foreign institution. Meanwhile, existing relationships may face additional risk reviews. Some non-fundamental projects can continue under limited circumstances. Nevertheless, they cannot involve direct collaboration or equipment supplied by a listed entity.
Chinese Response
In response, China’s embassy in Washington opposed the Pentagon’s decision. Its spokesperson accused the United States of overstretching the concept of national security. Furthermore, Chinese officials criticised the politicisation of normal scientific, educational and academic exchanges.
According to the spokesperson, scientific innovation and academic development require open cooperation. As a result, restricting legitimate research relationships could harm all parties, including US researchers and universities. Washington should also abandon its Cold War mentality and support an open, fair and non-discriminatory environment for exchanges between China and the United States, the embassy argued.
Harvard Inquiry
Four days before the announcement, two House committees released a report concerning Harvard University. A Republican-led investigation accused Harvard of failing to adequately examine relationships with Chinese institutions connected to the People’s Liberation Army and China’s defence-industrial sector. Moreover, investigators claimed that the university lacked centralised systems for identifying and screening foreign research partnerships.
Committee members alleged that Harvard-affiliated researchers had co-written work with scholars from several Chinese universities with military connections. However, their findings do not establish that Harvard is one of the 30 universities notified by the Pentagon. Likewise, defence officials did not say whether the congressional investigation influenced the decision to order the audits.
A Broader Research-Security Measure
Overall, the announcement represents an escalation in the Pentagon’s approach to foreign research relationships. Previously, US researchers received instructions to exercise strict caution before collaborating with listed institutions. Now, American universities must examine their existing partnerships and may have to end them.
Still, the reason for selecting the 30 universities remains unclear. The Pentagon did not reveal whether it found evidence of misconduct or unauthorised technology transfers. Alternatively, the institutions may have received notifications simply because they maintained relationships with blacklisted organisations.
Finally, the department stated that these audits would help the United States anticipate emerging threats and protect its technological advantage. In contrast, critics warn that broad restrictions could discourage legitimate scientific cooperation. They could also stigmatise researchers of Chinese origin and limit American universities’ access to international expertise.
Reference
Frontado, T. E., & Frontado, T. E. (2026, 18 agosto). Pentagon orders 30 US universities to scrutinise ties with Chinese research partners. South China Morning Post. https://www.scmp.com/news/us/article/3364337/pentagon-orders-30-us-universities-scrutinise-ties-chinese-research-partners?module=perpetual_scroll_0&pgtype=article